A case study of parental lifelong learning : the Nwar programme with the foundation for educational services (FES)

Abstract

In Malta, Parental Programmes are relatively new, but available evidence shows that they help in empowering parents to help their children's educational development, and result as well in parental lifelong learning in terms of attitudes, attainments and empowerment. Our study provides insights on the extent of parental growth in the Nwar Programme run by the Foundation for Educational Services. In an external review of the Nwar Programme done in 2004 by Wolfendale, parental lifelong learning was one of the areas highlighted as having high potential for further growth and investigation. Our study, which was conducted between October 2005 and October 2006, focuses on nine families within one site. Our findings show that parental growth exists in varying levels among parents and that growth is manifested in different dimensions. Particularly, we focused on three dimensions which show whether and how growth occurred. These include: the parents' approach when children had literacy difficulties, the link between home and school and the programme's affect in this link, and the changes, if any, that occurred in the parents' attitudes, attainments and empowerment. Apart from the parents' individual personalities, which contribute to the level of development of such growth, the Nwar Programme's strncture affects the level of growth through the support and guidance offered as well as how easily accessible the Nwar Programme is. Therefore, based on our findings, our conclusions include not only whether lifelong learning occurred, but also what could be done in the Nwar Programme itself, to enhance the effectiveness of the programme to reach as much parents as possible.